Metal feeding apparatus



Sept. 17, 1940. A. JUNG El AL METAL FEEDING APPARATUS Filed April 4, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet l filberi H. J

3 Edward J. Hubclmeyer CKS Sept. 17, 1940.- A. H. JUNG ET AL METAL FEEDING APPARATUS Filed April 194d 3 Sheets-s 2 j M VM, Albert H lJuyg ard J lmeyer llllllll" llulllllllllllllliiill z'w Wm; a.) m

A. H. JUNG ET AL METAL FEEDING APPARATUS Sept. 17, 1940.

Filed April 4, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 "Ilium lllh Albert H. dung f Edwovd J. Hubelmeyev' 6R; KOQKS Patented Sept. 1 7, 1 940 2,215,043

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METAL FEEDING APPARATUS Albert H. Jung, Flushing, N. Y., and Edward J. Hubelmeyer, Little Ferry, N. J., assignors to United American Metals Corporation, Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 4, 1940, Serial N0. 327,880

6 Claims. (01. 22-430) This invention relates to metal feeders and forth in the instant application which are immore particularly to automatic feeders for lowprovements over prior devices. ering metal ingots into a melting pot. It is an object of the instant invention to pro- This application is a continuation in part of vide a metal feeder of simple construction, in-

our copending application Serial No. 299,203 filed expensive to manufacture, and capable of satis- 5 October 1939- factory control. under varying load conditions. Prior known devices and methods involve the It is a further object of the instant invention lowering of an ingot hooked to a single strand to provide a continuous feeder having a conor chain into a melting pot and some stop detroller for regulating the action of the appavi'ce for causing cessation of operation. of a ratus while in operation and in addition an ar- 10 feeder when a predetermined level has been rangement for causing cessation of operation reached in said melting pot. These prior dewhen the demand for molten metal has been vices and methods have been found to be gensatisfied. erally unsatisfactory in that the feeding is non- It is a still further object of the instant incontinuous for when the melting pot demands vention to provide a continuous feeder having a 16 molten metal the use of but a single strand or controller for regulating the action of the appachain requires rewinding of same before an ratus While in operation, and in addition a speciadditional ingot can be associated with the feedfic brake mechanism for effecting brake action er. Some prior feeders have incorporated two on said controller.

20. or more feeder strands or chains in order that Other objects and the nature and advantages 20 the feding of the metal to the bath may be more of the invention will be apparent from the folor less continuous. These additional feeder lowing description taken in conjunction with chains increase the expense of manufacture rethe accompanying drawings, wherein: quiring great duplication of parts and have pre- Fig. l is a View in elevation of the feeder devented the wide use of such multiple chain feedvice in operation and illustrating one manner 25 ers for the additional cost of these machines has in which the device may be mounted; not been conducive to their installation. Fig. 2 is a View in elevation of the feeder In our copending application Serial Number mechanism casing and illustrating a second 299,203 filed October 12, 1939, we propose the mode of mounting;

: installation of an endless chain in association Fig. 3 is a view in section of the feeder head 30 with a metal feeder whereby feeding may be taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 4 with gear wheel more or less continuous, corresponding to the removed, and looking in the direction of the demand and obviating the necessity for the rearrows; winding of the chain before additional ingots Fig. i is a vertical section of the feeder head 35 may be associated with the feeder. To control taken along line ll of Fig. 3 and looking in the 35 the device in the said copending application to direction of the arrows; and feed metal only when the level in the melting Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view similar pot is below a predetermined level, a friction to Fig. 3' with the operating parts in a different brake device has been provided. While this position.

49 arrangement has been found to operate under Figs. 6 and 7 are similar to Figs. 4 and 3 but special conditions, yet under greatly varying depict a modified form of the invention. loads the control was not quite satisfactory. Referring to Fig. 1, a stand I0 comprises a ver- During that portion of the feeding cycle in which tical supporting leg l l which may be fabricated the ingot is at the top of the feeder, a great load of ordinary piping and mounted in a socket i2 5 is imposed on the device; and during that porsecured to a base I3 in any suitable manner so tion of the cycle in which the ingot has almost as to effect a stable support for the feeder reached the bottom of the device with most of mechanism. M. The ribbed casing l5 of the the said ingot melted, the weight of the ingot feeder mechanism M is provided at its rear, has been considerably diminished with corresee Fig. with a pair of tubular engaging elesponding decreases of motivating force. Under ments it and lta which are adapted to be asso- 50 such varying conditions of motivating force, ciated with a cylindrical support such as the prior feeders have been found wanting in that leg H. Bolts, not shown, may be utilized to their control is irregular and generally unsatisfirmly secure the feeder mechanism [4 to the factory. Accordingly, special controls, arrangesupporting leg H of the stand it].

ments, and a specific brake mechanism areset When first mounting the feeder mechanism 5 E4 in alignment with the upper end of the melting pot l8 it may be found necessary to more or less adjust the height of the mechanism above the melting pot to accommodate the length of feeder chain l9; the longer the chain'the more ingots 26 it may receive upon the hooks 2| associated with the said chain l9. This adjustment as to height may easily be made by sliding the tubular elements l6 and |6a of the casing along the supporting leg until the precise height desired is ascertained, at which time bolts or other suitable fastening means may be made fast.

Not only may the feeder mechanism be supported at its rear, as shown in Fig. l, but it may be suspended from its top portion, as illustrated in Fig. 2. In this view the sprocket wheel 22 has been removed to better depict the formation of the upper portion of the casing |5. The vertically extending protruding formation 23 at the upper portion of the casing is tapped to receive either a nipple 24 which in turn may be associated with a horizontal support 25 or it may receive a cap 26 such as shown in Fig. 1. When the feeder mechanism is supported at its rear as shown in Fig. 1, then the cap 26 is associated with the tapped protruding portion 23 of the casing i5. The lower portion of the casing I5 is provided with a removable part 21, which lower part includes upwardly extending walls which overlie a portion of the inner wall of the main body section 28 of the casing l5, see Figs. 3, 4 and 5. The screws 29, see Figs. 2 and 4, serve to securely hold the lower portion of the casing 2! to the main body section 28 of the casing I5.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the sprocket wheel 22 is locked by means of a pin 30 to the shaft 3 1 supported by the bushing B in the casing |5. The relatively large gear wheel 33 is secured to the shaft 3| within the casing l5 and engages the relatively small gear wheel 34 which is formed integral with the relatively large gear wheel 35. The gear wheels 34 and 35 are mounted on a bushing 35a and form a unit which rides freely on the shaft 36, the ends of which shaft engage the inwardly projecting portions 3'! and 38 of the casing 5. Each outer end of the shaft 36 is formed with a circular groove 4|, and after as sembly of the said shaft with the casing I5, ringlike spring members 42 are slipped into the grooves 4| to securely hold the shaft in place.

The gear wheel 35 engages the relatively small gear wheel 43 which is formed integral with the relatively large gear wheel 44. The gear wheels 43 and 44 together with the bushing 44a form a unit which rides freely on the portion 320, of the shaft 3|, which portion 32a. is of less diameter than that portion of the shaft 3| to which the large gear wheel 33 is fixed. The teeth of the gear wheels 33, 34, 35 and 43 intermesh and are of corresponding size. The teeth on gear wheel 44, however, are relatively large, have straight sides and relatively sharp corners, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5 for example. It is to be understood that the form of teeth recited are illustrative of what may be utilized, but other forms may be incorporated in the construction without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Riding freely on the shaft 36 is the escapement rocker control mechanism 45 having two upper arm portions 46 and 4'! respectively, which are adapted to alternately engage the teeth of the gear wheel 44. The leg portion 48 of the rocker control 45 comprises a foot F of triangular secserves to effect wedge-like engagement of the V surfaces 49 of the foot F of the leg of the rocker control 45.

The brake lever 52 being pivoted at one end, it is normally out of engagement with the surfaces 49 of the rocker control 45 and the tension of the float chain 55 is relieved, permitting the float lever 56 to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction by reason of its relatively heavy end 51. Formed on or pivo-tally or otherwise secured to the operating lever 56 is the cam 58 which engages the lower surface S of the brake lever 52 when the float lever 56 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction. The cam 58 may be adjustably positioned with respect to the operating lever 56 by an adjusting screw when the cam 58 is pivoted at Z to the lever 56. The heavy end 51 of the float lever 56 has an extension which is secured to the threaded adjustment rod A. A float 59 is secured to the lower end of the float chain 55, see Fig. 1, and serves to relieve the tension on the said float chain when the level of molten metal within the pot |8 is at a predetermined maximum, and further serves to provide tension on the said float chain when the molten metal is below this level. The weighted end 51 of the float lever 56 and float 59 are correlated so that smooth operation of the brake mechanism described may be effected. To provide for whatever adjustment is necessary in connection with the action of the weight 51, a tubular adjusting nut 10 is associated with the adjusting rod A in such relation that the ringlike end 1| of the chain 55 may be moved closer to or away from the shaft 12 about which the float lever 56 oscillates. Locking screw 13 is associated with the threaded interior of the adjusting nut 10 whereby locking action may be applied between the adjusting rod A and the adjusting nut HI. movement of the ring-like end closer to or away from theshaft 12 serves to change the effective length lever arm for the float 59, thereby providing for nicety of adjustment on the control for the feeder mechanism.

The hooks 2| are pivotally secured to the continuous sprocket chain I9, as shown in Fig. 1, in order to prevent distortion of the chain by the hooks flopping over in their upward travel while at the same time proper pivotal action of the hooks in their downward travel takes place during operation of the mechanism to feed ingots to the melting pot l8.

With the feeder device installed over the melting pot and secured thereabove as illustrated in Fig. 1, and with an ingot 20 associated with the hook 2| on the continuous sprocket chain l9, the sprocket wheel 22 will be caused to rotate in a clockwise direction effecting the turning of the shaft 3|, see Fig. 4, to which shaft 3| is secured the relatively large gear 33 which engages the relatively small gear wheel 34 which rides freely on the shaft 36. Rotation of the relatively small gear wheel 34 effects corresponding rotation of the relatively large gear wheel 35 which is formed integral with the wheel 34. The gear wheel 35 engages the relativel ysmall gear Wheel 43 which rides freely on the shaft 3| and which is formed integral with the relatively large gear As will be readily understood Til wheel 44 which has relatively large teeth of a configuration best illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5.

Oscillating freely with respect to shaft 36 is the rocker control 45, one arm of which, either the arm 46 or the arm 41, is always in engagement with one of the relatively straight sided teeth of the gear wheel 44. In Fig. 3 the arm 46 is in engagement with a tooth of the gear Wheel 44 and the arm 41 is free, whereas in Fig. 5 the arm 41 is in engagement with a tooth of the gear wheel 44 and the arm 45 is free. It will be readily apparent, with this construction, that the feeder apparatus is prevented from running away by one of the arms, either the arm 45 or the arm 41 of the rocker control 45, acting as a check on the gear system described, whereby even though the weight of the ingot urges rotation of the feeder gear system, yet it is held back. This urge in rotation does actually cause movement of the rocker arm 46, see Fig. 3, out of engagement with the engaging tooth of the gear wheel 44. As soon as disengagement of the arm 46 is effected, however, the arm 41 immediately engages as illustrated in Fig. 5. It will now be understood that the train will operate by virtue of the weight of the ingot 20 in association with one side of the feeder chain l9 but that the rotation of the mechanism will be checked or controlled by the arms 46 and 41 of the rocker control 45.

Cessation of the operation of the feeder system takes place when the melting pot is satisfied, for when there is enough molten metal within said melting pot, the float 59 therewithin will be at a height to effect slack within the chain 55 or at least relieve the tension therein whereupon the weighted end 51 of the float lever 56 will ,cause rotation of the latter in a counter-clockwise direction starting from the position depicted in Fig. 5 and ending in the position shown in Fig. 3 so that the cam 58 will act upon the brake lever 52 to effect its counter-clockwise rotation about the shaft 54 and cause the vV surfaces 50 to engage with wedge-like action the V surfaces 49 of the foot F of the rocker control 45 and prevent further oscillation thereof. As one of the arms 45 or 41 of the rocker control 45 is always in engagement with a tooth of the gear wheel 44 of the feeder gear train system, a lock is effected and further feeding is prevented.

In Figs. 6 and 7 a modified form of check control and brake including a compound leverage system and novel adjusting device is depicted. The rocker control 45 which oscillates freely with respect to the shaft 36 includes arms 45' and 41, respectively, each of which are bored in their top faces to receive the wearing elements 46c and 41e, respectively, which cooperate with the teeth of the gear wheel 44 to effectively check the rotation of the said gear wheel as already described in connection with Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive.

When the level within the melting pot has reached a predetermined maximum, the float 59 .i therein will be at a height to effect slack within the chain 55' or at least relieve the tension, whereupon the lever L which is weighted on that ,side T of the shaft H which is opposite to the connection of the float chain with the lever L, and the lever L will rotate in a counter-clockwise direction and permit the lever 55 to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction about shaft A under the influence of the weighted end 51' which is released by the rotation of the end T of the lever L away therefrom. The free counter-clockwise rotation of the lever56' brings the actuating cam 58 into contact with the bottom side S of the brake lever 52' whereupon the V-shaped brake surface 55 makes frictional contact with the corresponding V-shaped brake surface 49 on the foot F of the oscillating rocker control 45'.

To provide for adjustment of the compound leverage system associated with the brake lever 55 the screw C is secured to the lower side of the cam 58, extends through the lever 55, and is engaged by an adjusting nut N at its outer end. The cam 53 is pivotally secured at P to the lever 55 whereby rotation of the adjusting nut N will affect the distance between the working end of the cam 58. and the lever 56' so that precise and effective braking action occurs in response to the level of molten metal within the melting pot.

With this construction, the actuation of the lever 55 by its weight end 51 is independent of the incidental weight of the level response means which includes the float within the melting pot, the chain 55, and the leverh. Accordingly, under all conditions of operation, constant and proper braking effect will be applied to the rocker control 45' which is capable of adjustment by the nut N which may be adjusted at the factory prior to the installation of the feeder mechanism and no adjustment is necessary for different lengths or weights of feeder chain or level responsive equipment.

Not only may counter-clockwise rotation of the sprocket wheel 22 be effected but reverse rotation may be caused by removing the chain 119 from the sprocket wheel and reapplying it to the sprocket wheel 22 in reverse arrangement, that is, with the left side now on the right and former right side now on the left. This will place the hooks 2! in such position as to receive ingots 20 on the left side of the feeding apparatus instead of on its right as illustrated in Fig. l. The teeth of all the gear wheels in the feeder gear train being symmetrical, the machine will operate in reverse direction as well as that which corresponds to clockwise rotation of sprocket wheel 22. This versatile feature of the device permits the feeder apparatus to be associated with machines of such a nature other than those that can only operate properly with feedersv lowering ingots from their right sides and which have their sprocket wheels rotatable only in a clockwise direction.

It has been found in practice that the mechanism described operates to lower metal into a molten bath in a desirable manner, despite variance in weight applied to one side of the feeder chain. For example, under conditions of operation wherein the feeder chain is loaded by weights varying from two complete ingots down to the weight of but a single ear of an ingot, the feeder mechanism satisfactorily fed metal to a pot and properly responded to the float control. The float controlled brake effectively suspended operation of the machine when the melting pot was satisfied, though the weight of two whole ingots urged movement thereof, and further, the feeding of metal was not improperly retarded when the melting pot was not satisfied, though the Weight of but a single ear of an ingot urged rotation of the sprocket wheel 22.

Though desired operation may possibly be effected by a machine simply controlled by friction means under limited weight range conditions, yet such a construction is not satisfactory for association with line type casting machines operated under such capacity as necessitates relatively great variation in weight upon the feeder chain. Accordingly, the instant invention is an improvement over such machine in that it includes a control for checking movement of the feeding apparatus in addition to a braking mechanism involving a wedge-like action.

Those prior machines which rely simply upon a positive locking brake for control must of necessity be made so strong as to prohibit their manufacture at a reasonable cost conducive to universal acceptance. Should the parts of such a machine be made of reasonable size, that is,

with the feeder gear train system limited to a volume suitable for use and association with a line type casting machine, the danger of breakage involving frequent servicing would be great. An undue pull upon the feeder chain of such suggested construction, such as the loading thereon of the Weight of two full size ingots, would effect stripping of the gears, other locking mechanism or other engaging parts.

In the instant invention a construction is set forth which is a novel combination of feeder gear train, checking mechanism, and wedge-like brake associated with said mechanism, which permits the parts to be manufactured of reasonably small size and of ordinary materials yet provides for a delicate satisfactory control without fear of breakage because of hard usage or sudden great loading. The said checking mechanism may be denoted as a check control for in fact it delays or checks the activities of the gear train in a desirable manner to effect smoother operation of the feeder and facilitates accurate breaking as indicated by the level Within the melting pot. As the checking mechanism is an oscillating member, it may also be termed a dynamic speed checking mechanism. to be understood that where the term check mechanism is recited a positive brake is not denoted. By arranging the V shaped surfaces 49 and 59, as shown in the drawings, an effective Wedge-like brake results which operates in the general combination shown in an effective manner, while at the same time critically reducing the size of the parts. The foot F of the rocker control l5 cooperates with the bra-king surfaces of the brake lever 52 to effectively cause cessation of operation of the said rocker control A5 in response to a high level within the melting pot.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in this device without departing from the spirit of the invention and therefore the invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An ingot feeder comprising a frame, a conveying system and a braking system, said braking system including: V-shaped friction brake means pivotally supported by said. frame and adapted to engage and disengage the conveying system, a weighted lever pivotally mounted on said frame, said weighted lever having pivotally mounted thereon an operator for coacting with said brake means, adjustment means on said lever to effect the rotation of said operator about its pivot point on the lever for changing the dimensional relation between said operator and It is said Weighted lever, a float lever pivotally mounted on said frame and having a portion for engaging said weighted lever and a portion associated with the float, whereby when the float is raised the portion associated wtih the weighted lever will move away therefrom so that the weighted lever may rotate about its pivot under the action of the weight and cause the operator to coact with the brake means.

2. An ingot feeder including a frame, a conveyor system, and a float controlled brake system associated with the conveyor system, said brake system comp-rising: a brake lever pivotally mounted on said frame, a weighted lever pivotally mounted on said frame and associated with said brake lever, and a float operated lever pivotally supported by said frame, said levers being constructed and arranged so that the weighted lever effects the braking action on the feeder through the brake lever when the float lever is moved to its raised float position, said weighted lever acting on said brake lever independently of the float lever, and when said float is in lowered position said float lever acts to counteract said Weighted lever, whereby the braking action ceases.

3. The structure recited in claim 2, and an operator for contacting said brake lever pivotally mounted on said weighted lever, and an adjustment means for causing said operator to pivot on said weighted lever to change the dimensional relation of the operator with respect to said weighted lever.

4. An ingot feeder including a frame, a conveyor system, and a float controlled brake system associated with said conveyor system, said brake system comprising: a brake lever pivotally mounted on said frame, a weighted operating lever pivotally mounted on said frame, an. operator for contacting said brake lever pivotally mounted on said operating lever, adjustment means mounted on said operating lever for changing the position of said operator with respect to said operating lever, a float associated with said braking system for controlling the same, said adjustment means being operable to affect the float control of said braking system.

5. An ingot feeder including'a gear train and a conveyor operatively associated with said gear train, a frame for supporting said gear train, a combined brake surface and escapement mechanism comprising a bra-king surface portion and a pair of escapement arms operatively connected to said gear train, said escapement mechanism being pivotally mounted on said frame for oscillatory movement with the pivot point between the two arms on the one hand and the braking surface portion on the other whereby the two arms may alternately engage and disengage said gear train, friction brake means adapted to selectively engage and disengage the said braking surface portion.

6. The structure recited in claim 5, said combined brake surface and escapement mechanism comprising a generally symmetrical Y-shaped member, the two arms of the Y forming the escapement arms and the leg of the Y forming the braking surface portion.

ALBERT H. JUNG. EDWARD J. HUBELMEYER. 

